William Robert Badman was born in Mocanaqua, Conyngham Township, Luzerne, Pennsylvania on 19 Feb 1917. He was the first child born to Joseph Badman and Florence Arnold. At the time of the 1920 census he was 3 years old and lived in Slocum Township, Luzerne, Pennsylvania with his parents and younger brother Harry.[1] In 1930 he lived in Slocum Township with his parents and three younger siblings. He was 13 and attending school.[2] In 1940 he lived in Slocum Township with his parents and six younger siblings. He worked as a laborer in the coal mines.[3]
While fishing in Mud Pond, Slocum Township, Luzerne, Pennsylvania in 1932, William, Harry Badman, Howard Arnold, and three other friends found a canoe sunk in the shallow water. The boys tugged it out of the water, carried it to Howard's home in Folstown, and stored it in his garage, where it remained for about 30 years. In 1961 it was investigated by the Society for Preservation of Pennsylvania Archeology from Harrisburg and determined to be an Indian dugout canoe from about 1250 A.D. They donated the canoe to The State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg where it is on permanent display.[4][5]
On 22 Dec 1941 William and Dorothy Seward applied for a marriage license. His occupation was listed as soldier, U.S. Army. They were married by Rev. B. E. Wentzel on Christmas Day in Wapwallopen, Luzerne, Pennsylvania.[6] The couple raised three daughters (still living in 2021). He was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Army, 106 Infantry Division, 423rd Regiment.
He died on 25 Oct 1970 and is buried in Stairville Cemetery, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.[7]
↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH7W-D77 : accessed 28 March 2021), William R Badman in household of Joseph Badman, Slocum, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 200, sheet 6A, line 24, family 118, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2072; FHL microfilm 2,341,806.
↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQDP-3Y8 : 13 December 2019), William Badmin in household of Joseph Badmin, Slocum Township, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 40-254, sheet 1B, line 46, family 13, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 3560.
↑ Whitebread, Helen. A History of Slocum Township and its Environs. Slocum Township Bicentennial Committee, 1976. Page 8.
↑ "Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KHFC-JS2 : 5 August 2020), William Robert Badman and Dorothy Jean Seward, 25 Dec 1941; citing Marriage, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, United States, multiple County Clerks, Pennsylvania.
↑Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 28 March 2021), memorial page for William Robert Badman (19 Feb 1917–25 Oct 1970), Find A Grave: Memorial #24019669, citing Stairville Cemetery, Dorrance Township, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by Star Kline (contributor 46964248).
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